2 or more under 2years

Great read, I'll have 17 months between my two... Thanks for your suggestions ladies!

I had 3 under 22mths. I haven't read every post, so sorry if I repeat anything! Frozen meals and baking (muffins, scones etc so YOU have something quick to grab and eat!!) Put a load of washing on at night so it is ready to hang in the morning, prepare a snack box for your toddler to help themselves to while you are busy with baby, have a special box for feeding time...a new book, DVD, activity that your toddler can do while you are feeding. Set up a chores chart for yourself! Spread the housework out over the week instead of trying to do too much in one day! I use to give myself until lunchtime to get any housework done...if I hadn't (and it wasn't important) it had to wait until the next day!
Don't refuse anyones offer of help! If someone visits and says is there anything they can d0...give them some washing to fold, the vacuum, or get them to watch your toddler while you shower!
Don't put to much pressure on yourself....having kids close in age can be hardwork and tiring

19 months between my two, very very little family/friends help and DH went back to work long-hours the day DS2 was born (the joys of being self-employed)...

And I'm just going to buck the trend and say that I found the first 6 months far easier than when DS2 was 8ish months-1.5years ish!!

DS1 wasnt jealous until DS2 could take his toys and move!!

But I did get very good at walking/cooking/playing/bathing etc and feeding DS2, infact, I think there was only at night that I was staying still and feeding!! And DS2 survived fine!

I really really like the vibrating bouncers, during that horrible time of cooking tea, I could put DS2 in it on the bench in the kitchen with me, and it meant I could see him while cooking, and DS1 could play without having to think about DS2....

We didnt have any issues with jealousy in the first months, infact DS1 hardly acknowledged DS2! But I did also try not to be protective at all with DS2, if DS1 wanted to talk to him 2cm from his face fine, or tickle him, wash him in the bath etc etc...

The second babies from my experiance and talking to everyone is tend to be pretty easy-going and put up with things. I supose they have to just go along with the flow!!

The small gaps are fantastic in my opinion (especially same-sex!), they play together so jolly well now, I hardly get to join in, (maybe that makes them not good though!!!). It is very very funny listening and watching their games!

I have 13mths between my olders 2 and 19mths between my younger 2, there is 23mths between the prs.

Im going to go with the 1st 2 as 3 and 4 really werent that difficult.

I found the hardest adjustment was getting use to getting 2 in and out of the car and the supermarket.
shopping with a new baby alone is a new adjustment now add a toddler who needs entertaining. I found for this either leaving baby at home with Dh or someone you trust with baby for an hr and take just the toddler(for some one on one while you do the groceries) or if that is not possible then have a sling or wrap, I found the sling carry was best i could feed baby and carry on with groceries at the sametime. under 2's usually still have a day sleep so work out b4 your go into the store if they may fall asleep so you can choose your trolley wisely.

at home I didnt find there was too many problems, my boys have all been pretty independant so I didnt have problems with feeding with a toddler around. but sometimes a toddler will choose feeding time to test some boundries, I was adviced to not ignore it and if ds1 was doing something while I was feeding ds2 then to put ds2 down and see to ds1 so he would learn that just coz im feeding ds2 does not mean it is time to misbehave coz im too busy to pull him up for it.

sleep for ourselves is proberbly the most important one, what we did was dh would go get ds2 if he woke(if baby wasnt in our room already) and bring him to me and I would feed him. it meant I only had to half wake to feed him and didnt have to get up, dh would have to get up but he got to go straight back to sleep.
If ds1 has any sleep problems maybe look at tackling them before baby comes along, life can be easier if only one is waking at night. I find a good evening routine even if you dont have one during the day is great.

getting out during the day can do wounderd just a walk to the park, I find this done in the early evening can tire the toddler out and make the evening routine even better as they wont be fighting sleep so much.

frozen meals is great especially for whitching hr and growth spurts.